Charecterisational differentiation of Wood and husk composite

material with Ferric oxide powders

S. Maivizhi Selvi1, M.Raakesh

2, Keerthana.N

2, Purusothaman.D

2

Assistant Professor1, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Student2 Final year, Department of Mechanical Engineering

KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Arasur, Coimbatore 641407

Email id: agilan065@gmail.com kee.mavells@gmail.com

Abstract

Bio composite is a very emerging technology in the field of composites to make use of various bio

wastes. Among those wood composite is a type of bio composite to make use of waste wood materials to make

composite structures. Strength characterization is done to analyze the load bearing capacity of the composite

model that is done. The strength characterization includes Hardness test, Tensile breaking load test, and Micro

structural analysis.

The proposed project is a combination of bio composite and the nano materials. The composite is

made using husk as well as the wood powders as the fiber and the epoxy as the matrix material. The

weight ratio of husk to epoxy matrix is kept constant for a variation of percentage in ferric oxide

powders. Fiber to matrix ratio is maintained as 3:2 to the variation of Fe2O3 nano particles is different

cases are respectively 0.010%, 0.015%, 0.020%, 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1% .The strength and hardness tests

are done for various specimens respectively.

Key words: Husk, Wood, Ferric Oxide powders, Strength and Hardness.

1. Introduction

Composite consisting of two or more

materials that have different characteristics, where

one serves as a binder material and the other as a

fiber. The properties of the composites are strong,

lightweight, corrosion resistant, wear resistant, and

attractive in appearance. Many composites have

been developed with various types of synthetic

fibers in order to improve the mechanical

properties.

Currently, the type of composite tends to

change from composite with synthetic fibers to

natural fibers. This is because the composite with

synthetic fibers such as glass fibers are not

environmentally friendly, lead to problems of waste

glass fiber, which cannot be decomposed by nature

[1]. Composites with natural fibers have many

significant advantages over composites with

synthetic fibers such as low cost, lighter weight,

available in the form of plants or waste, non-

toxicity, and does not cause skin irritation [2]. The

convenience of these composites lies in the fact

that the ingredients are obtained easily from natural

or agricultural wastes and hence the composites can

be made relative easily. Natural fibers can be

cultivated so that its availability is sustainable.

However, natural fibers also have many

weaknesses such as irregular dimensions, stiff,

susceptible to heat, easy to absorb water, and

quickly obsolete [1]. Ideally composite materials

used in structures where strength to weight ratio

into consideration [3]. Attempts have been made to

use natural fiber composites in non-structural

application.Currently a number of automotive

components previously made with glass fiber

composites are now being manufactured using

environmentally friendly composites. The use of

natural fibers in automotive has two advantages,

namely vehicles become lighter, which means

improved fuel efficiency, and improved the

sustainability of production because it can be

cultivated [4], [5].

2. Preparation methods

The husk fiber used as the reinforcement

material is weighed for 25 grams and the

compositional weight variation of ferric oxide nano

powder is taken according to 0%, 0.01%, 0.015%,

0.02%, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1% weight fractions

respectively.

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Date: 15.2.2015

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Table.1. Weight ratio between Fiber and the ferric

oxide powders

Hence the reinforcement material is now

ready for the formation of composite material. The

reinforcement to matrix weight ratio is fixed

constant as 60:40. 10% of hardener for the Epoxy

(Matrix) ratios were taken and then mixed with

matrix. And then the husk was mixed with ferric

oxide thoroughly.

Fig.1.Husk powders mixed with ferric oxide

powders at various weight proportions

The same way wood powders were also mixed in

the same proportionality.

Die was prepared using the cardboard

material. The husk epoxy mixed particulate was

settled into the die as shown in the Fig.3. The set

up left to dry for 48 hours and then kept in the oven

for 5 minutes over an increasing temperature up to

1500C. The hard composite cake was taken out and

then machined for its surface finish. For a 60:40

ratio of the matrix and the fiber the weight of

matrix (Binder) epoxy was kept constant as 37.5gm

with an approximation of 0.2gm to 0.4gm for all

samples as shown in the Fig.2.

Fig.2.Weight of epoxy or the binder as per the

60:40 ratios between matrix and the fiber

Fig.3. Epoxy mixed husk with varied particulate

mixture settled in die

The color variation in the samples is due to the

varying composition of the ferric oxide powders.

The samples having less amount of the particulate

mixture will have less intensity of the red color.

The particulate mixed samples are compared with

the sample without mixture in order to differentiate

the variation in properties of the other samples.

Fig.4. Epoxy mixed wood composite cakes

numbered as per the variation of Fe2O3 Powders

Sl .No % Variation

of Ferric

oxide

powder

Variation

Ferric oxide

powder

(grams)

Weight of

Fibre

(grams)

1. 0 0 25

2. 0.010 0.25 25

3. 0.015 0.375 25

4. 0.02 0.5 25

5. 0.025 0.625 25

6. 0.05 1.25 25

7. 0.1 2.5 25

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Results and Discussion

The micro structural view of the sampled

composite bar is shown below at Fig.4. & Fig.5

The colour variations of the pictured samples

clearly show the variation in the concentrations of

the ferric oxide powders.

Fig.5. Micro structural view of various composite bars varying in the composition of particulate matter

1.0% 2.0.01% 3.0.015% 4.0.020% 5.0.025% 6.0.050% 7.0.1%

Fig.6. Micro structural view of various composite bars varying in the composition of particulate matter

1.0% 2.0.01% 3.0.015% 4.0.020% 5.0.025% 6.0.050% 7.0.1%

Proceedings of International Conference on Developments in Engineering Research

IAETSD 2015: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

ISBN: 978 - 15084725 - 51

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Date: 15.2.2015

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01

2

3

4

5

0 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.05 0.1

Har

dn

ess

Nu

mb

er

BH

N

Ferric oxide variation in %

Tensile strength and hardness of the

material is a very important factor that is to be

considered. The factors are calculated in order to

check the property of the material to withstand load

and if it can be applied in some suitable

applications.

The hardness value of the specimens was

checked using Brinell hardness machine. A

constant load of 750kgf was given. The diameter of

the impression produced by the ball intender is

noted down. If the diameter is larger, it means that

the hardness of that particular material is lower

when compared to the impression which is smaller

in diameter.

Fig.7. Graph showing the variation in hardness of

the Husk composite material when there is an

increase in the [ Fe2O3] Powder

Fig.8. Graph showing the variation in hardness of

Wood composite material with variation in

particulate compositional variation

Inferring the graph shown in Fig.4, we can

say that the hardness of the material is increasing

when there is an increase in composition of the

Ferric Oxide powders. But the optimum level of

composition is 0.020% after which the hardness of

the composite material starts decreasing. In sense

the indentation of the ball intender is increasing.

From Fig.5 it can be clearly seen that the indenting

diameter is low at a composition of 0.025%. It

means that the composite bar sample is harder at

0.025%. The remaining compositions do not seem

to have a good hardness when compared to the

composition of 0.025%.

The tensile strength of the composite

material is also checked using the UTM Machine.

The tensile strength is the strength of that material

that can withstand loads at same axis at opposite

direction. The samples are fixed in the jaws of the

UTM machine and the load is given as said before.

The load at which the composite breaks is checked.

Fig.9. Tensile strength testing in UTM

Fig.10.Graph showing the variation of breaking

tensile load with respect to the varying composition

of the Particulate matter [Fe2O3] in husk composite

bar

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Date: 15.2.2015

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The cross sectional areas of all the

samples are kept constant and the tensile strength is

calculated for each sample that varies in

composition of ferric oxide powders as shown in

the Fig.5.

Inferring the graph shown above it can be

clearly seen that the tensile property of the sample

number 4 with a particulate composition of 0.02%

of weight fraction has high tensile strength in

comparison to the other samples. Addition of Ferric

oxide powder in the husk composite increases the

strength and hardness of the composite material but

only up to a weight fraction of 0.02.

Fig.11.Graph showing the variation of breaking

tensile load with respect to the varying composition

of the Particulate matter [Fe2O3] in wood

composite bar

From the graph shown above (Fig.11) it

can be clearly seen that the tensile property of the

sample number 5 with a particulate composition of

0.025% of weight fraction has high tensile strength

in comparison to the other samples. Addition of

Ferric oxide powder in the wood composite

increases the strength and hardness of the

composite material but only up to a weight fraction

of 0.025.

References

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Studiperlakuan alkali terhadapsifattarikkompositlimbahseratsawit

polyester, in Proc. 2005 SNTTM-IV Conf., 2005, G3, pp. 23-28.

[2] K. Oksman, M. Skrifvars, and J. F. Selin,

Natural fiber as reinforcement in Polylactic Acid (PLA) composites, J. Composite Sci. and Tech, vol. 63, pp. 1317-1324, 2003.

[3] R. F. Gibson, Principles of composite materials

mechanics, McGraw-Hill Series, 1994.

[4] M. P. Westman, L. S. Fifield, K. L. Simmons,

S. G. Laddha, T. A. Kafentzis, Natural fiber composites: A review, U.S. Department of Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

2010.

[5] J. Holbery and D. Houston, Natural-Fiber-Reinforced polymer composites in automotive

applications, JOM, vol. 58, no. 11, pp. 80-86, 2006.

0

1

2

3

4

Bre

akin

g Lo

ad V

aria

tio

n

Ferric Oxide Variation in %

Proceedings of International Conference on Developments in Engineering Research

IAETSD 2015: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

ISBN: 978 - 15084725 - 51

www.iaetsd.in

Date: 15.2.2015

20